About 211 What is 211 211 is a
About 211
What is 211? 211 is a free, confidential information and referral service that connects people to essential health and human services 24 hours a day, seven days a week online and over the phone. Everyday, people dial 211 seeking a wide range of social services and resources, including: food, housing, utilities payment assistance, health care, transportation, child care, employment opportunities, mental health resources, disaster information and assistance, and more. 211 is critical to United Way’s mission to fight for the health, education, and financial stability of every person in every community.
U. S. Population Coverage 94. 6 % 3 Collectively, 211 s curate databases of over 950, 000 programs and services nationwide.
200+ 211 Providers in U. S. There are over 200 independently operated 2 -1 -1 s throughout the US, many operated by United Ways. Many are Accredited by AIRS (Alliance for Information and Referral Services) and AAS (American Association of Suicidology) 4
How We Help 5
A Typical 211 Client No two 211 calls are alike, but all are confidential, met with empathy, and result in hope and help. Some examples of real client calls are: • A young mother who was laid off and faces an eviction notice needs financial assistance to stay in her home, and is eligible for but not yet enrolled in WIC and CHIP because she didn’t know about it. • A veteran who doesn’t live close to the VA and doesn’t have reliable transportation to get there for a weekly appointment to recover from shoulder surgery. • An uninsured man with diabetes who does not have the money to buy his insulin this month. • A young teen experiencing severe anxiety and depression along with thoughts of suicide and doesn’t know where to turn. • A family who lost their home in a recent wildfire and has not found permanent housing but is living in a shelter scheduled to soon close. 6
In Connecticut • In FY 2019, 211 handled 261, 682 calls from Connecticut residents with 339, 457 requests for service. • About 46% of all calls were crisis calls. • The 211 ct. org website received nearly 1. 7 million visits. 7 2 -1 -1 Connecticut, Statewide | FY 2019 Top 10 Service Requests Housing and Shelter Mental Health Services Employment & Income Utilities Crisis Intervention and Suicide Healthcare Government & Legal Food Substance Abuse and Addiction Clothing & Household Disaster 91, 668 36, 867 31, 908 30, 802 29, 321 27, 374 13, 262 11, 327 5, 898 3, 495 2, 297
211 By the Numbers (2018) 8
How does 211 help with basic needs assistance? 211 specialists connect clients with local service providers to address a variety of needs: • • • Shelter (affordable housing, housing expense assistance, shelters) Food (food pantries, summer school lunch programs, SNAP benefits) Healthcare (free clinics, insurance enrollment, prescriptions savings programs) Education (early childhood programs, job training, ESL classes) Employment (job coaching, interview prep, certification programs) Transportation (public transit passes, car repair expenses, free rideshare)
How does 211 help during a crisis, disaster or emergency? Whether experiencing a mental health crisis or impacted by a natural disaster, people can reach out to 211 for 24/7 help that includes: • • • 10 Crisis counseling and mental health treatment Emergency shelter (disasters, domestic violence, etc) Accurate evacuation information Disaster clean-up Food and water distribution Financial and legal assistance
Special Services Many 211 s provide additional specialized services to address specific issues, including: • • • 11 Veterans assistance program navigation and peer support Senior outreach to combat social isolation Homelessness coordinated entry and diversion Child development screening Public benefits screening and enrollment Tax preparation scheduling
United Way of Connecticut Specialized Services • 211 Child Care helps families find child care programs that meet their needs • 211 CT Crisis Line answers calls from individuals in emotional distress/suicidal. Not only does 2 -1 -1 take calls from Connecticut residents, but it is a point of contact for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (NSPL) and 1 -800 -SUICIDE. • Care 4 Kids serves as the state’s child care subsidy program for low-income working families • Child Development Infoline connects parents to services for children with suspected or diagnosed developmental delays; serves as intake for Birth to Three services • Youth Mobile Crisis Intervention Services is the central intake for crisis intervention for youth available 24/7/365 • 211 Housing is the front door for coordinated access to housing and emergency shelter in Connecticut. 12
Connect with 211 13
Connect with 211 • Nearly 95% if U. S. residents can reach 211 by simply dialing 2 -1 -1 from a landline or cell phone • Each 211 also has a local and toll-free number • Many 211 s are also available by text or web chat • Search for resources directly on local 211 websites • Bookmark 211. org to quickly find your client’s local 211 contact information and searchable database
211. org Search by location to find local 211 information 15
211. org Search by location to find local 211 information 16
LIVE Demo of 211 ct. org 17
Questions? 18
The mission of United Way of Connecticut 211 is to help meet the needs of Connecticut and its residents by providing information, education and connection to services. This mission has been furthered through recent, exciting and innovative partnerships with community providers, state departments and local government and we look forward to future collaborations.
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